Former Bearcat Gash interviewed by Cowboys

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

According to the Dallas Morning News, former Hendersonville High standout Sam Gash could become a member of the Dallas Cowboys staff soon.

The newspaper reported Thursday that Gash, who was an assistant for the Detroit Lions for the past five years and was let go by Detroit at the end of this season, was one of the leading candidates to become the Cowboys next running backs coach.

Gash interviewed with Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on Tuesday in Mobile, Ala., with Dallas coaches and front office in town to watch Senior Bowl practices, the paper reported, and according to its sources, Gash's interview went very well.

The Cowboys are looking to finalize their running backs coach position by the end of the weekend.

Gash, a 1987 Hendersonville High graduate, went on to play college ball under the legendary Joe Paterno at Penn State. The bruising fullback served as a team captain his senior year for the Nittany Lions in 1992. After the season came to a close, he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1992 draft.

He made the Pro Bowl twice and played for three teams in his 12-year career: the Patriots (1992-97), the Buffalo Bills (1998-99 and 2003) and the Baltimore Ravens (2000-02). He got his first Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2000.

If the Cowboys hire Gash, he will replace Skip Peete, who was released by the team after Dallas finished next to last in the NFL in rushing. Peete has since been hired as Chicago's running backs coach.

One of Gash's former colleagues at Detroit is Rod Merinelli, who is now the defensive line coach for the Cowboys. Merinelli was the Lions' head coach from 2006-08.

<p>According to the Dallas Morning News, former Hendersonville High standout Sam Gash could become a member of the Dallas Cowboys staff soon.</p><p>The newspaper reported Thursday that Gash, who was an assistant for the Detroit Lions for the past five years and was let go by Detroit at the end of this season, was one of the leading candidates to become the Cowboys next running backs coach.</p><p>Gash interviewed with Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on Tuesday in Mobile, Ala., with Dallas coaches and front office in town to watch Senior Bowl practices, the paper reported, and according to its sources, Gash's interview went very well.</p><p>The Cowboys are looking to finalize their running backs coach position by the end of the weekend.</p><p>Gash, a 1987 Hendersonville High graduate, went on to play college ball under the legendary Joe Paterno at Penn State. The bruising fullback served as a team captain his senior year for the Nittany Lions in 1992. After the season came to a close, he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1992 draft.</p><p>He made the Pro Bowl twice and played for three teams in his 12-year career: the Patriots (1992-97), the Buffalo Bills (1998-99 and 2003) and the Baltimore Ravens (2000-02). He got his first Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2000.</p><p>If the Cowboys hire Gash, he will replace Skip Peete, who was released by the team after Dallas finished next to last in the NFL in rushing. Peete has since been hired as Chicago's running backs coach.</p><p>One of Gash's former colleagues at Detroit is Rod Merinelli, who is now the defensive line coach for the Cowboys. Merinelli was the Lions' head coach from 2006-08.</p>